Motivating staff

From abysmal to mediocre: Encouraging hand hygiene

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: From abysmal to mediocre: Encouraging hand hygiene As a consultant in long-term care, I learned how to properly wash my hands by reading the hand hygiene poster hung above the sink at one of my first nursing homes. I’ve gotten more diligent over the years (read: … Read more

Growing Good

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Growing Good Woohoo! My first column of 2016. Which was started during a bout of insomnia in the last week of 2015. What did I do when sleep failed me? What electronics-addicted individuals often do in the middle of the night. I grabbed my computer, caught … Read more

7 employee wellness ideas for the holidays (and beyond)

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: 7 employee wellness ideas for the holidays (and beyond) After a staff training on reducing burnout in long-term care last week, a look through the evaluation forms was illuminating. A significant number of attendees — mostly nursing aides, nurses, and environmental workers — wrote that the … Read more

The secret to LTC success? A focus on well-being

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: The secret to LTC success? A focus on well-being Despite the diversity of the events I attended during my brief visit to the LeadingAge convention in Boston last week, a theme clearly emerged. The thread that ran through the varied offerings was well-being. Retaining staff In … Read more

How to find out why your staff is leaving

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: How to find out why your staff is leaving During the Q&A section of my McKnight’s Fall Expo webinar “Letting them go with style,” the conversation turned toward why staff members are leaving their long-term care positions. As I pointed out then, workers often give plausible … Read more

Behavioral health care — not drugs — for dementia

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Behavioral health care — not drugs — for dementia Antipsychotic medications have proved ineffective at reducing the symptoms associated with dementia. They also have serious side effects in older adults, including restlessness, dizziness, higher likelihood of falls and other problems that can contribute to an increased … Read more

Free Webinar 5/20 @2pm ET: 9 Ways to Improve the Effectiveness of your Social Work Department & Increase LTC Resident Satisfaction

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Join Dr. El Wednesday, May 20th at 2pm Eastern Time (1pm Central Time) for a FREE Webinar on 9 Ways to Improve the Effectiveness of your Social Work Department & Increase LTC Resident Satisfaction sponsored by EmLogis To register: visit EmLogis Events About the webinar: Are your residents depressed, their families distressed, and your staff … Read more

Free Webinar 2/25 @ 2pm ET: Motivating LTC Staff with “Nudge” Principles

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Join Dr. El Wednesday, February 25th at 2pm Eastern Time (1pm Central Time) for a FREE Webinar on Beyond Carrot and Stick: Motivating LTC Staff with “Nudge” Principles sponsored by EmLogis To register: visit EmLogis Events   About the Webinar: Employee recognition programs reward staff members for good behavior and discipline techniques (such as suspending staff … Read more

Use ‘nudge principles’ in LTC to prompt staff in the right direction

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Use ‘nudge principles’ in LTC to prompt staff in the right direction Standing by the salad bar in the newly opened restaurant, I recoiled at the sign that read, “Please don’t use your hands.” I suggested to the manager that the notice should instead advise diners … Read more